Rising Phenex

by Crossposted

A Crossposting of PsylentFox’s fanfic on Questionable Questing, all credit goes to the original author.

8. The Debut

[Riser Phenex]

In the week leading up to my debut, I decided to run a test on myself.

That test was simple: How many days could I stand to be inside the ATTC while working myself to exhaustion?

The answer was a lot.

Out of the 210 days possible, I spent a grand total of 187 days training inside the time bubble- only leaving when it was time to go to my lessons and attend my training in the Dungeon. It was honestly fantastic. A truly freeing and exhilarating experience.

I felt like a man on a mission, and in truth I was.

Each day was filled to the brim with small but measurable self-improvement.

I punched until I could complete all one thousand punches without easing up the restraints. Once I completed that, I moved on to attempting to do them faster and faster while still keeping my form as crisp as I could make it; the goal was to whittle them down until I could complete them within an hour. The two kicks, simple front snap kicks, were added into the routine; I hadn't mastered them yet, but in time I would- by the time Sagiyama-sensei returned from his Bereavement Leave.

The magical weight set that my brother bestowed unto me found a permanent home within the temporal training complex as I constantly pushed the weights higher and higher with each completion of my full body circuit; increasing the weight was as simple as pouring loads of demonic power into them, and while demonic power wasn't all that dense given the sheer amount that these enchanted weights could contain I would be able to use them for the foreseeable future. At least until I outgrew them completely; then my future Peerage would find them useful.

Now, I was able to make some decent progress in the realms of control with my magics, both those of my family and those few spells that I had in my personal repertoire, but that was mainly it. Sure, I could have used my authority as a Young Lord to kick the Low and Mid-Class devils that were training inside on the magic range off any time I wished, but my desire to not rock the boat and deny these men and women their due was what kept my desire to fling spells and blistering hot fire at the training targets until I had to be dragged off the field. So instead I took the smaller range and focused on casting my small stable of spells at a constant rate by increasing the difficulty of the magical puzzle box that dangled underneath my shirt; by the end of my 187 days, seven threads of control had grown to eight threads.

This was still a far cry from what I needed to cast Arrow Artemis without dividing it up into two, 6-thread charging cycles, but it did mean that I could hold four 2-thread or two 4-thread illusions or spells without feeling any strain. However, that was with static targets and nothing blowing up around me, or someone charging in to punch my face off, so who knows how well I could perform once under pressure?

Only time and actual combat training would tell, and I was a good way away from actually fighting Sagiyama-sensei if he kept gateing my forward progress in the Kuroneko style. Though I could see his reasoning and methodology- ensuring that every move in the complex series of katas could be performed instantly without direct thought- this knowledge didn't make it any less frustrating.

That wasn't to say it was all sunshine and rainbows.

On day 159 my magical restraints broke. They just shattered- lines of ink tearing away from my wrists, ankles, and waist and scattering like leaves in the wind as they caught fire and turned into ash. That miffed the hell out of me even though intellectually I knew that I should be thankful that they even lasted as long as they did. Those restraints were meant to contain beings of Mid-Class and low High-Class levels of strength, and the anchor for the bindings themselves were naught but paper and ink; a hasty solution for any traveling monk or wizard until proper restraints could be put in place.

I'm not going to lie and say that I didn't relish in the knowledge that my growing strength was what broke them, but the fact that all of the training that had been kicking my ass up and down the metaphorical street had now just become easy.

I also think that my ire toward the shattering was enflamed because I hadn't had any time to source more powerful restraints. I mean, my mother said that she was 'working on it', and I trusted her word implicitly; given that my new restraints were being fashioned in the real world while I was inside of a bubble of accelerated time. It was likely that they would have been finished before my current ones broke if I'd continued to advance outside the ATTC instead of inside of it.

These sour feelings were not fully gone by the time I took my final trip into the Dungeon before my debut, and that led me to almost blowing up on someone that I cared for a great deal. Well, I did blow up, but not as much as my family expected from me given the circumstances.

During all of my trips into the Dungeon, my minder had either been Clarissa, Chandra, or Calliope; Veranda was never around often enough due to her work on Earth, but so close to the final days of my debut all of them were busy attending to various tasks. All of them except Veranda.

I knew that she was weaker than me. I could feel it. Yet despite that weakness, I'd chalked it up to her either concealing her true strength from me or that her centuries of experience as a devil had turned her into a 'Control over Power' type.

I was horribly disappointed by her performance within the Dungeon.

Without the restraints increasing my physical exertion and sapping my mana away from me I turned to increase my physical exertion by carrying a set of dumbells that I'd brought from the ATTC. The Farmer's Carry was an excellent exercise, you know? Yet while I was still making my way around the outer perimeter, on only my twelfth lap, I came across the crumpled form of my mother's Queen lying face down with her dress embarrassingly shredded; the flesh of her breasts was pressed out and I could see the forest of curls from her pubic hair peeking around the thong she was wearing.

I had been startled, but then I had to remind myself that this was the DxD universe and things like this happened all of the time; a consequence of someone's physical body being far more sturdy than the garments they wore.

After flaring my power to make sure it wasn't an illusion I was forced to end the training session early and carry her unconscious form out of the Dungeon and back to her room next to my parent's Master Bedroom.

I had gone full circle in the span it took for Soo Young Kim to wake up.

From frothing anger to quietly seething rage, and then finally to that cool, cold wrath that frosted over even my Phenex flames with its icy presence.

With the dumbbells by my feet, I sat in the chair and just watched her until her eyes fluttered open and she returned to consciousness.

"Pathetic." I hissed out lowly, the wooden arms of the chair creaking ominously in my grip, "Weak."

As her awareness returned she sat upright in the bed, only realizing the state of her undress, but she quickly covered her breasts with the blanket and opened up her mouth to begin lecturing me.

I silenced her.

My demonic power, free from the restraints that bound them, roared around me and began to fill the room with poisonous, noxious flames; the fires of my spirit licked over everything, yet nothing burned because I did not wish it to. The pressure became so great that she was unable to remain upright and was forced back down onto the bed- her face and neck dripped with sweat as her eyes widened in terror.

"You have been my Mother's Queen for how many years, Soo Young Kim?" I asked rhetorically before I leaned back in the chair and crossed one leg over the other, "Almost four centuries. The Evil Pieces have been around since 1535, so that means you were among the first humans to ever be reincarnated."

I laughed at the terror on her face, as if she knew exactly where I was going with this conversation, yet she could not speak because I would not allow it.

"I had once thought that you were someone who just didn't like to flaunt your power, Auntie Veranda. It fit your upbringing and life experiences- after all, the noble that shows off their power unnecessarily is the one that ends up being hated the most. In my mind, I had built you up as someone who preferred to branch out and try new things, experience new magics, and see just what your powers were capable of. I thought you were more of a Hidden Master among the Queens of the Phenex family- the one who didn't wish to stand out and instead chose to be the 'innocent beauty' that was the 'hidden blade'," I ran a hand along my mouth as I adjusted myself in the chair and glared her down, "But you weren't any of those things, were you? Granted it might be a touch uncharitable of me to be beating you down like this considering my mother herself seemed to be comfortable with the status quo... but you know what the problem with that is?"

I got out of the chair and walked over to the bed before crawling onto it, and I got very, very close to her face- our noses kissed, but my only desire was to stare into those big beautiful eyes of hers, "The problem is that you shouldn't have been comfortable with it. Not in the slightest."

I pulled back and sat at the edge of the bed, not even bothering to look at the pathetic woman as she struggled to breathe, though I did reign back my presence just enough so that she could draw in some shakey, uneven gasps.

She couldn't very well pay attention to my words if she was trying not to die, now could she?

"While I very much hate the game of Chess and how it has captivated devil society as a whole, there is something that I do agree with, and that is the idea that every piece on the board exists to protect the King," I generated an illusory chess board and began running through a relatively simple game where pieces were exchanged readily, "No matter the value of the piece, every piece exists solely to keep the King safe. The Queen piece, valued at nine pawns, is the most powerful and versatile of the Evil Pieces; it combines a Knight's speed and maneuverability, a Rook's strength and heartiness, and a Bishop's magical power and control."

Pieces on the board continued to be knocked out, and yet the more I spoke the more it felt like I was truly talking to myself.

"I understand there are far more nuances to being the Queen in a peerage than simply being strong, but it appears to me that you have forgotten your primary purpose," I clenched my fists and looked at her from over my shoulder, flames of orange and ghastly, sickly green licking at my eyebrows, "Your primary purpose is not to sit in an office. It's not to manage the affairs of the Peerage. It's to protect your King. To protect my most beloved mother."

I suck in a deep breath before letting it out, "If I'm being honest I feel that Auntie Clarissa has the same failings as you, but Chandra and Calliope? They were reincarnated far after you, and yet they're both exceptionally powerful. Chandra is the Queen of a devil who stands in 7th place in the Ratings Games, and she holds her own against verified, certified monsters on a regular basis; she's been a devil for 297 years. Calliope has only been a devil for twenty-five years and yet she could kick your beautiful bottom up and down the training fields without breaking a sweat."

The last three pieces on the illusory board were K1, Q1, and K2, and in the final move, Q1 takes K2.

A rough snort leaves my lips, "You shamed yourself greatly today. Not just you but my mother as well; your only saving grace is that there was no one else around to witness it. You fell victim to illusions and clawed away at your own clothes before passing out face down like some common bed wench with your modesty on display to me. And you know what the worst thing about it all is?"

I dismissed the board and leaned over her again, "You didn't even admit that you weren't capable of handling it. Either you felt you could, foolishly entrusting your inborn strength as a Queen to see you through, or you knew that you couldn't and yet still put yourself and me at risk by keeping silent."

The bedspread crinkled as I pulled away and slipped off, and I went through the trouble of straightening out my workout clothes to make myself presentable.

"I really hate it, Soo Young Kim, I really hate that the devils sympathetic to the Old Satan faction despise the very existence of reincarnated devils. I think it's disgusting that they think that reincarnated devils cannot grow to be strong. I think it's gross how blind they are to the simple fact that reincarnated devils are to be the future lifeblood of almost all devil kind within the next few centuries; try as they might, the reincarnated will one day become the majority of the populace in the Underworld," I let out a soft sigh, "It isn't as though I cannot sympathize with the thought of being replaced, but it's the belief that reincarnated devils cannot reach lofty heights that bothers me the most."

I looked over at her, and she shirked deeper into the pillows at my gaze, "It is devils like you that they hoist up into the air and use to tout their propaganda. Reincarnated devils who had done nothing with the power that is theirs to claim. Almost four centuries as a devil and yet you had to be carried out of the Dungeon on a child's back- the very same child that is supposed to be your charge. Your ward."

Reigning in my demonic presence took a lot more effort than letting it all out, but the more I worked all of my thoughts out and expressed them in words the cooler and more controlled my flames became. The moment my hand touched the doorknob the room looked as though it had never been filled with poisonous fire.

"I'll let you get some rest and ponder on the countless years you've wasted. However, your punishment isn't something I can hand down- instead, I will leave that to my Mother and your fellow Queens to decide," I knew they were there because I could feel their ki on the other side of the door, but without Sagiyama-sensei to guide my meditations there was little that I could do to improve on that front during my first ever training sesh.

When I stepped out into the hallway and shut the door behind me I expected to see some disapproving frowns, yet if there were any ill-feelings at me most assuredly overstepping my bounds none of them showed it. Calliope's usual easy grin was gone, and Chandra's cool countenance was frozen solid. My mother's kind, gentle face was a smooth, placid mask of indifference. When my eyes met Clarissa the pure-blood devil had the decency to avert her gaze; there was no doubt in my mind that she heard everything.

That they heard everything.

I gave them all a deep bow and carried on my way to the nearest teleportation circle so that I could port back to the ATTC; I needed to scavenge the rest of my training session before I lost too much time.

That had not been my finest moment. My mood had been soured by the destruction of my restraints, and having my last session in the Dungeon cut short because Veranda had a countenance and presence that made me wholly overestimate her abilities just sent me over the edge.

However, I was assured by my father that even my episode was considered 'very lax' by devil standards; if anything he seemed almost amused that I was feeling so out of sorts at the sheer potency of the anger that I had experienced during that time.

Devils were beings of sin, and Wrath was just as much a sin as any of the others.

Some devils would have killed her on the spot for being so shameless as to put her weakness on display before one of their children.

Others would have waited for her to wake up so that they might take their displeasure out on her personally in a more extended fashion before finishing her off.

That I was absolutely livid and didn't even harm her outside of terrifying her to tears showed my benevolence and restraint.

That I recognized that she was not mine to punish showed that I valued the positions of my Mother and Veranda's fellow Queens.

That I bothered to correct her and show her the error of her ways, pointing out her failings, was right and proper as Peerages within the family represented the family, and no Piece, no matter of valuable, was above chastizement when misbehaving.

I knew that I wasn't wrong in feeling the way that I did, because the blood thrumming within my veins staunchly agreed, but there was that human part of my soul that felt that maybe I'd gone a touch overboard.

That maybe I'd gone too far.

It took me the last few weeks of my training sesh to come to terms with the simple fact I was completely okay with what had transpired.

I didn't regret doing what I did or saying what I said.

She had a duty to my mother, beyond simply phoning in from a cushy job on Earth.

Beyond warming my mother's bed when she felt like she wanted some womanly company.

She had a duty to be strong and protect her to the best of her abilities, and while I couldn't be certain that she didn't train on her own... I just know that every shred of power she has was what she accumulated naturally during her years as a devil.

That shit still pissed me off.

Where the fuck could I be in 400 years? I was 10 for crying out loud and I made her look like a Mid-Class! Genetics plays a big part, but it's only the starting point- everything else has been through my efforts and mind alone. Everyone helped out, they pitched in, but all of that wouldn't mean a damn thing if I didn't put my nose to the grindstone and made their assistance worthwhile.

Still, I hated the way Veranda seemed to twitch and squirm in my presence ever since that night. I had probably crushed her spirit into the dirt after it was already reeling from being folded by the Dungeon like a chump. That... just wasn't cool. The more she avoided my gaze the more I felt like a total shit heel.

However, I couldn't do anything about it because my mother told me in no uncertain terms that it was being handled and that I could talk to her once Veranda was ready to talk to me.

It did little to banish my unease but like a good momma's boy, I would abide by her wishes, even if it pained me to do so.

On the plus side, Mother decided that she would be taken to the ATTC every time she slipped into a prophecy fugue. I made sure to spend time with her honing my prophecy blood trait while she was in there with me, and I could see that it had a profound effect on the rest of the family; no sooner would she teleport away with a few maids, then in a few hours she would be right back looking refreshed and ready to take on the day.

The one it had affected most was Ravel.

"Big brother, um, when is mommy going to go to sleep again? She hasn't slept in a long time..."

I gripped her hand softly as I dropped to a knee and planted a kiss on her forehead, "Well, my little Ravel, mother has found a small workaround to her bouts of sleepiness. She goes away for a little while and then she comes back feeling much better. Haven't you seen how much happier she looks?"

"Uhn," The little girl's drill curls bounced.

"That's good. Now Mother has more time to spend with all of us."

I felt my heart melt as that little talk from just last night flashed back in front of my eyes.

Now all I needed to do was to find a way to make her shed those silly little drill curls and I would be set. Would she like a ponytail like Seekvaira? Or maybe she could just let her hair down? Hmm... I'd have to look into some different braids and ask one of the maids to teach me how to dress up a little girl's hair.

My hands gripped the railing of the high balcony overlooking the party happening in the family dining hall. The one-hundred-person table remained in its central location, but all of the chairs had been removed so that rows upon rows of finger foods, entrees, and desserts could fill up its vast tabletop. Surrounding it were forty other tables, with each Demon Pillar family attending having an assigned table, and eight of the nine Extra Demon clans; House Nebiros could not attend because they simply hadn't been found since the end of the Civil War.

The remainder of the tables were for news media personalities who were conducting some on-the-spot interviews with some rather jovial devils, and one table was specially reserved for my Guests of Honor. The tables were segregated by factional loyalties with those who were most... even-keeled taking the tables on the borders of each faction.

I had to admit that I was taking a massive fucking risk by inviting the Extra Demon clans to my debut but Father and Ruval saw the benefits of at least attempting to bring them back into the fold. Seeing as most of the attendees that came as representatives were either retainers or branch family members, it appeared as though they were just as wary of being here as everyone else was weary of them. After all, several of their most prominent members were outright terrorists affiliated with or outright controlled by the Old Satan faction; I highly doubted that even someone as powerful as Euclid Lucifuge would dare to stride inside even if he was invited under guest rights.

Whatever their reason, the Masters of the Old Satan faction gave permission for them to join my debut.

Sirzechs Lucifer himself was the one who ultimately agreed to the plan and signed off on it; while this would protect House Phenex from any blowback on the surface if anything went awry this would still cause our reputation to take a hit with the current Pillars. Six Demon Pillars had already declined to attend entirely due to their mere presence, but those Houses were firmly in the New Satan faction already, so their refusal was more a political statement than anything else.

Even without whatever ill-portents my Father was feeding to Lord Lucifer from my smattering of prophetic visions- most of which weren't exactly real ones but the ones that mattered were- the Underworld was slowly starting to make its way back toward Civil War footing, and it didn't take a genius to see that discontent and disunity were on the horizon unless something was done to start binding everyone together again.

My sketches and prophecy were likely only serving to fan the flames underneath the Great Satan's behinds, and even if they had an inkling that some of my warnings were false or highly dubious at best... there is no way to falsely create the creeping sense of terror and dread that comes with even looking at my six-year-old recreation of the first vision I ever had- of The Beast of the Apocalypse.

I took a deep breath to steady myself as I saw my Father conclude his conversation with one of the Pillar Lords, Marquis Ludwig Oriax, the current head of the House; their blood trait gave them an inordinate amount of knowledge of the planets and stars, and thus an exceptional aptitude with ritual magics requiring their guidance. He picked up a flute of champagne and began clinking a silver spoon against the rim- the soft noise carrying far across the room and above the clamor of the numerous conversations filling the air.

"Lords and Ladies of the Court, lend me your ears if you would please," My father's smile grew broader as the conversation lowered to a gentle hum, "First of all, you have my thanks and the thanks of all of House Phenex for your attendance. As all of you may know, I am Marcus Phenex, four Lord of House Phenex- one of our beloved 72 Demon Pillars. We are all gathered here today for a very special celebration that occurs only once in the lives of our dear children. From the moment they are born into this world, we raise them, we teach them, and we train them in all manners of subjects specifically for moments such as these. On a day such as this, our children leave the sheltering arms of us parents and take their very first step out into the realms of the Courts to meet their fellow Pillar Nobles and their children so that we might breed familiarity, cooperation, and in certain cases foster healthy competition."

"It is following their 10th birthday, on a day of the child's choosing, that this first step into the wider world we live in takes place, and we call this once-in-a-lifetime ceremony 'The Debut'," Marcus Phenex rested the hand holding the spoon at the small of his back as he turned his gaze over the crowd, "On this day we are introduced to the newest member as he or she steps into Court. We learn a little bit about who they are as individuals to catch a glimmer of who they might one day become. We learn about their interests, to see what drives their young minds ever forward. It is also on this day that we get a chance to taste some of their power and see what of their families' talents they have received at their birth."

"It is a celebration of introduction. A celebration of discovery. A celebration of who these young devils are now so that when the years pass by we can look back and remember what they were with fondness," My father's seemed to glow gold he smoothly turned away from the crowd and strode toward the steps of a stage, but it was thanks to my elevated position that I could see him slipping a few vials of golden liquid into his breast pocket.

Aw, Father...

Once on top of the stage he turned around, the glow missing from his eyes, and he smiled broadly as he held his champagne glass high, "It is with all that in mind that I am pleased to announce that my 3rd son, borne from the womb of my beloved wife Elise, is ready to make his debut!"

At his words, the magical lights began to slowly dim and down below I could see the devils all taking their seats at their assigned tables with varying levels of interest.

I shook myself before patting my cheeks.

I can do this.

I'd practiced this for months.

This was the first step, and I wasn't about to flub it in front of God- OW!- and country!

Game time.

[Kuisha Abaddon]

Not for the first time since she arrived at the opulent Phenex estates Kuisha Abaddon wondered why she was even here.

The green and luscious fields were a far cry from what she was used to having grown up in the Blasted Lands- the lands so devastated by the Great War between the Three Factions that no one else wanted to settle in it... and that included the Extra Demons whose only option was to survive in the harsh environments around them. At the end of the Civil War, the victors were able to return to their homes while the Extra Demons and the Demon Pillars who would not submit to the New Satan factions were stripped of their status, and their lands, and forced to call that blasted hellscape 'home'.

The small mansion that she once thought to be larger than life seemed like a hovel in comparison, and upon seeing the dozens upon dozens of servants, butlers, and maids running about she was reminded that her family barely had a handful.

Even the foods on the tables showcased the differences between the Extra Demons and the Demon Pillars- buttery crackers, the most odorous and sumptuous of cheeses, finely sliced cuts of meat, and the freshest fruits Kuisha had ever seen were only the finger foods. The less she thought about the fatty, juicy cuts of meat that weren't sourced from whatever monsters she and her father had killed that day, the better. The spread had simply hypnotized her and before she knew it she had three plates piled high with a little bit of everything, and it wasn't until she realized that she was almost weeping at the various flavors dancing on her tongue that she had forgotten her composure as a proud Extra Demon.

In the corner of her mind, there was a part of her that admitted that if this was what defeat tasted like... then it was delicious.

Still, she was fifteen years old, and despite being drawn in by the bounty on the tables before her, she would not lose again.

While the invitation had been something that intrigued her father enough to accept, whatever it was he hoped to gain from this attendance wasn't something she could glean. Her father was the fifth Head of House Abaddon, his ascension to the seat owed to the dangerous wastes surrounding the cloistered compounds of the various exiled clans; the harshness made him a hard man. Kind, to her at least, but very hard.

Kuisha did her best to at least pay attention to Lord Phenex as he spoke, and she was a touch confused as to why he was explaining what a young devil's debut was, what made up its parts, and why it was important.

While she and her fellow Extra Demons never had an official debut with the other Pillars, they had a less rigid one for their fellow exiled children.

"Father...?" She whispered, leaning closer to the broad-shouldered man who looked as though he could lift their whole home on his back; his once scraggly black hair was slicked back and tied into a neat ponytail, and the clothes he wore once belonged to the first Lord Abaddon back during the days when their House was pledged directly to Lord Lucifer himself.

He placed a hand on top of her own and gave it a gentle squeeze, "Lord Phenex is not explaining it for our benefit... he is explaining it to the Low-Class devils watching all over the Underworld."

Amos Abaddon released her hand so that he could lean forward and rest his chin on his interlaced fingers, "Curious, don't you think? To the commoners of the Underworld, the inner workings of the Pillar Houses are a mysterious thing indeed; for them to catch even the tiniest glimpse into this world in which they cannot partake this must be terribly exciting. I wonder about the young boy who staged this momentous occasion, and why has seen fit to not continue the tradition of exclusion... the Extra Demons have never attended an event like this since the end of the Civil War, and the commoners have never seen anything like this at all. What is his play? Does he seek to gain something from this? Or was this even his idea at all?"

Kuisha patted her father's arm as she let him carry on with his musings, the young woman returning her attention to Lord Phenex as he was seemingly finished with his speech.

"It is with all that in mind that I am pleased to announce that my 3rd son, borne from the womb of my beloved wife Elise, is ready to make his debut!"

The lights all around them began to dim, and she had to admit that her interest was starting to tick up higher.

Idly she picked up a slice of pungent cheese and paired it with a thick cut of some smoked meat, and she let out a soft groan of pleasure as the two wonderful flavors combined in her mouth.

High above her head, at the back of the ceiling, she caught sight of a rectangular block of fire spring to existence at the edge of the guardrailing. Another block appeared in front of that one, then another, and another, each one perfectly spaced apart and trailing down from the lofty height in a fiery imitation of a staircase. Halfway to the floor, they stopped, and a rather boyish figure stepped out from the railing and began to slowly make his way down the steps.

He was dressed in what Kuisha could only assume was an impeccably tailored suit, but her rustic living and her family's lack of means meant that she could only guess. However, the important part was that it looked very striking on him, the dark blacks and greys heavily contrasting with his blonde hair and cerulean blue eyes; the adornments of gold at the cuffs and the thin, black leather gloves on his hands seemed to detract from the image overall. In her opinion, it looked as though he was trying far too hard to appear grown up, but overall it was far from distasteful; perhaps in a handful of years, he might grow a little more to fully take advantage of his mature look.

His stride, however, was something that caught her attention. It was smooth and confident, his gate neither lackadaisical nor hurried, and the closer he got the more she could see just how well the cut of the suit was pressed against his form; the lines bulging over the planes told her the story of someone that trained their body to a very high degree. A far cry from the lanky boys and teens that she saw at the tables on the other side of the room.

At the last step, he came to a complete stop, the flaming steps behind him disappearing before reappearing in front of him, and he continued to walk forward on the platforms at his current height over the floor; despite wanting to kick back and enjoy the theatrics of it all, she couldn't help but notice that there were only ten steps he could generate at a time. That meant he was able to at least control ten threads of mana to very good level, something that she had to respect as she was five years his senior and could only control fourteen; her blood trait, her heritage- Hole- required her to be able to handle at least that much in order for it to be useful when hunting the dangerous beasts of the Blasted Lands with her papa.

"Hello everyone, and welcome to the Phenex Estates. My Lord Father has given me a most wonderful introduction, and it wouldn't do to keep you waiting any longer," The young boy stood on his flaming platform and dropped to a knee, his hand held over his heart, and he held that position until his father acknowledged him. He stood up and turned around, this time bowing to the crowds below, "My name is Riser Phenex, the 3rd Son of Lord Marcus Phenex and Elise Phenex nee' Barbatos. I am ten years old, and I would like to once more humbly welcome you to my debut; for your attendance... I am most grateful."

He straightened his back and drew his hands behind his back, "It is customary for the opening of a young devil's debut to begin with a display of one's talents and passion. Many adore the musical arts, playing their very best to serenade the ears of all who hear. Others dance, to give the viewers a feast for the eyes with their graceful routines. Others still prefer the words of the heart, and they reach deep within their very souls to bring forth poetry that can make even the hardest devils sink back in deep introspection."

Kuisha heard her father snort lightly, "Really pumping this up, eh, boy?"

"I am not a singer, nor am I a dancer," Riser tilted his head with a small but notable self-deprecating grin, "However, I am an avid student of the fascinating history of our people, and on occasion, I fancy myself a storyteller. So please, sit back and let me tell you of a tale that you've likely never heard of unless you delve into the dusty tomes of old as I have. It is a tale of courage. A tale of heroism. A tale of self-sacrifice and love for one's brothers. It is a tale of stalwart determination in the face of the greatest adversities, and the cunning and guile needed to see our heroes through it."

A large blue light coalesced in the center of the room, threads of mana leaving the boy and stitching themselves together to form a fairly complex illusion- the first of which was a blasted battlefield soaked with the blood of devils, with craters as far as the eye could see and smoke choking the air. As he spoke the smoke came together to make ten figures, all tall, lanky males, and they staggered in pairs while dodging a hellish rain of spells- the dirt kicking up all around them.

"Six hundred and thirty-seven years ago war had just only begun to ravage the Underworld. Thirty-three years into what we all call today the Devil Civil War, the breach into Guison's Gap had just been reinforced. Bolstered by the defeat of Lord Guison and his forces, the New Satan Faction was desperate to ensure that this foothold would not fall back into enemy hands.

Seeing that this was one of the biggest opportunities the New Satan faction had at putting an end to grueling stalemates that had been grinding down the forces on both sides, then Lord Ajuka Astaroth devised a plan to hold the northern flank while Lady Serafall Sitri and Lord Sirzechs Gremory staged vicious assaults to the southern flank before the Old Satan faction could reinforce or contract the lines. He took with him ten legions through the Guison Placid and into the direct territory of Lord Falcor Raim; his men were exhausted from the previous push, yet they followed their commander fastidiously- once they learned the of the importance of their holding action they knew that should they fail then the gap would collapse.

Lord Astaroth chose the most advantageous position he could find and he set up shop right in front of their noses, digging in where he could; his presence was not one that could be ignored in the slightest. He was within striking distance of their most forward logistical outposts, and the best roads to travel south to plug the gap were through his freshly claimed territory; going around him would have taken them too much time, as the lands of Raim were rife with monsters that they had cultivated to deny valuable terrain. Lord Ajuka's forces were directly between them and their objective, and he had to be rooted out at any cost.

So they struck, and they struck very hard. Day after day, the more numerous legions- twenty-three in all- crashed against the hastily erected fortifications of Lord Astaroth's ten legions, and with his strength behind them, he was able to repel them time and time again with minimal losses.

However, in war, there is a saying that is often forgotten by strategists and military planners alike, and that saying is 'The Enemy has a say too'.

Five legions of Raim braved the dangerous wilderness utilizing the well-hidden footpaths in the mountains and were able to set up a line at Lord Astaroth's rear. His lines of supply and communication were cut off, and unless the other forces reinforcing Guison's Gap stumbled across the plight of those ten legions... it is likely that Lord Astaroth's compatriots would never learn of his predicament.

The rest of the story would be widely known to most casual readers of military history: Lord Ajuka's legions were able to hold on, with numerous skirmishes fought from both the front and the rear, the men and women of those brave ten legions doing their best to pin two sizeable forces in place so that they could neither retreat nor advance. It was in this battle that the true power of Lord Astaroth's famous Kankura Formula was showcased to the Underworld as he redirected magical bombardment with impunity, exhausting the ranged specialists under Lord Raim's command and forcing them to engage in close combat where Lord Astaroth's legions held the superior ground and had superior arms and training.

However, this victory, while great, was not only won from purely the strength and skill of Lord Ajuka alone, nor his attending legions.

Only the most dutiful historians would know that attached to the forces of Lord Astaroth was a half-strength Phalanx of House Sitri.

At full strength they were called "Walmek's Rangers", so named after their Mid-Class Phalanx Commander, Tidus Walmek. These forces were specialists in mountain warfare, and over the course of the battles of Guison's Gap, their one hundred and two members were steadily reduced until only ten remained. A tragic rate of attrition indeed, but not one that is outlandish given the fierce and bloody fighting that had taken place to the south.

This story is not the story of Lord Astaroth, no, it is their story."

Kuisha had to admit that she felt herself being drawn into the whole presentation- the illusions flowed like water from one to another, and they seemed so detailed and life-like that if it were not for the deep blue glow from the large floating orb in the air she could have believed that they were right in front of her.

Ten men, devils all, stood side by side with their arms over each other's shoulders. Their uniforms were practically non-existent, and their forms were streaked with mud, blood, and detritus; it was almost as if the grasses had become their clothes- large cloaks almost shielding their profiles from view.

"The forces on the northern front were already in a precarious position even with a direct path from the Gap thanks to the lagging supply lines that were struggling to keep up with the advance. The appearance of the five legions of Raim to their southern flank was near enough to make their hold untenable. Lord Astaroth spoke to his legion commanders while devising plans to hold the front to the best of their abilities, but all of those plans hinged on their ability to be resupplied. Food, untainted water, medical supplies. An army needs all of these things to function properly, and after the battles leading through the gap... the forces under Lord Astaroth were already on quarter rations even with their last resupply.

If they could not find a way to break through and get word, or to sneak in supplies, their fighting ability would eventually crumble and the front would be lost.

It was in this dire meeting that Commander Tidus Walmek stepped forward and volunteered to take on a daring plan: they would sneak through the enemy lines by circumventing the forces to the south, climbing over the mountain on their right flank, and back into friendly territory to retrieve supplies before making their way back.

The issue was that the mountain to their right flank, while not a tactical threat to their current position, had numerous sentries from Lord Raim posted on the ridges and peaks. They had an unknown number of magical arrays carved into the stones themselves, and any attempt to fly would see them surely dead and the plan compromised. They had extensive magical scanners as well, but Commander Walmek and his men were the solution.

Every man that was selected for the unit was a Low-Class devil with what most would consider pitiful reserves. They could hardly fly, they could hardly cast spells, and by all rights, they were considered a terrible unit for conventional warfare... and the detractors were not wrong. The swampy warfare they encountered in Guison was murderous to their numbers, seeing their once proud Phalanx reduced to a mere ten men... and yet despite this, they remained strong.

What these men did have, however, were their incredibly strong bodies honed through countless hours of physical training. These men were utterly devoid of fear- they were walking personifications of focus, commitment, and sheer fucking will."

The images changed to show moving images of the ten men, covered in mud, climbing through densely packed wooded terrain, crawling in the underbrush as silently as a mouse while patrols of Raim devils passed by without ever noticing them. The illusion showed a leafy mound being stepped over by dark boots, and once the boot was out of the way Kuisha was surprised to see an eye slowly flutter open to watch the patrol move on.

"With their magical abilities so weak already it was easy enough to completely seal them away, and they crawled through the forests, scaled the sheer cliffs of the mountain range, slithered past patrols and over the walls where Lord Raim's men kept watch over the ridges and valleys. They were beneath notice. Invisible to the magical senses that their enemies relied upon, untraceable to the magical arrays seeking out intruders, but they would never be found. This was their terrain. Their environment- the men of Walmek's Rangers knew mountains like no other Phalanx in the New Satan forces."

The images shifted to a pair of bloodied hands as they crested a ridge to reveal the face of Commander Walmek, and they came over one by one, their eyes constantly searching... always wary... yet completely focused on the task in front of them.

"It took them two days to make it back to friendly lines bearing a sealed letter from Lord Astaroth, and after feeding themselves they loaded up with shielded magic satchels and made their way back through the hellish path that they had just arrived from. They crawled through the muck, over and under bodies of the fallen from both sides, dragging their most precious cargo behind them every step of the way. Once more they were not caught, with the self-assured forces of Lord Raim never even knowing they had been breached.

They returned to the lines in a day and a half, handing off supplies equivalent to almost a whole wagon train before grabbing the empty satchels and throwing themselves back into the journey that was grinding the men down both physically and mentally.

Yet despite this, they never once gave up. They never once complained.

As far as the ten remaining men of Walmek's Rangers were concerned they could rest when they were dead, and while they wouldn't mind a sweet reunion with those they lost, their friends would just have to wait a little bit longer for them because they had a mission to complete. A mission that only they could do, and that meant something to these great men.

In the end, they would make seven such trips over nineteen days, slipping back and forth over the mountains to friendly lines to retrieve much-needed supplies, providing relief for the beleaguered forces of Lord Astaroth and his ten legions. These supplies kept the men in fighting shape, kept them sharp, and this confounded Lord Raim as the man had been confident that he'd cut them off completely.

Yet the forces of his foes remained strong and hale.

Lord Raim believed that the forces of Lord Astaroth were bluffing and on their last legs, so he attacked. Wave after wave of forces poured across the battlefield in an attempt to get the defenders to break, and yet they never did. They stood strong and fought until their dying breath, and it was this final assault that saw Lord Raim's legions shattered and the northern flank of the gap held in place."

The illusions faded away and the magical lights in the large dining hall slowly grew brighter, and Kuisha felt her eyes get drawn back to the flaming platform that the young boy was standing on.

"It is men like them that I admire the most, these unsung heroes," Riser locked his hands behind his back, "They did not have the numbers. They did not have the magical prowess or strength that kind is known for, and yet they did not let that stop them. They took what they did have- their bodies and their minds- and they honed them to an astounding degree. They saw a problem, envisioned a solution, and then used their strength, skill, and guile to see that mission succeed no matter the personal cost."

"You sir! You and your nine fellows!" Riser's voice rose to a shout, and Kuisha whipped her head to see where he was looking, she saw a small table off in the corner with ten men seated around it; they looked very uncomfortable, "You are an inspiration to me. Ever since I learned of your tales I have done my utmost to wholly dedicate myself to the tenants that I believe you represent. It was a quiet courage, one that was barely mentioned in most of the history books, but I sirs, have seen your feats and I will at the very least honor you in my own little way."

The man at the center of the table looked around to the four men on his left and the five on his right, and with an imperceptible sigh he stood up and placed a hand over his heart and bowed, "On behalf of the Rangers, I humbly accept this praise."

"There is no need to be so modest, Commander Walmek, but I can honestly sympathize; being in the spotlight has its own thrills, but it also has its pitfalls as well," The boy gave him a commiserating smile before bowing, "So please, enjoy the rest of the evening."

The man gave a stiff nod before resuming his seat and none-too-subtly tossing back his champagne glass.

"Now, that was the 'Tale of the Walmek Rangers'," That was when Riser Phenex clapped his hands once, the boy turning back toward the nobles seated with a broad smile on his face, "I trust you found it entertaining?"

The applause that followed was polite and restrained, as befitting an audience of High-Class devils, though she did note that a handsome Lord whom she recognized as Lord Sitri raised a glass and saluted with it. There were other Pillar Lords among the tables who were among the Old Satan faction that had bent the knee to the New Satans, and their expressions ranged from ambivalent to quietly seething.

For most in attendance, the tale was a simple one, but the illusions invoked far more emotion and attachment to it than having it merely spoken about. It wasn't a tale of a heroically powerful devil destroying his foes, but instead one of the weakest of the weak finding ways to support those who did wield such power to achieve a monumentally important victory. It was not, as far as she could tell, tinged with pro-New Satan faction propaganda- simply a story of ten good men finding the strength and courage to carry out their dangerous mission to the best of their abilities despite the odds stacked against them.

Yet there was no doubt in her mind that the once-supporters of the Old Faction would see it as a dig to their already battered pride; yet another tale about how they had lost the war. To add further insult to their injury it wasn't even a story about the numerous powerful devils that had felled them in droves.

No.

It was a story about the weakest of the weak, those devils so pitiful that they shouldn't even be considered devils at all, who had been one of the lynchpins in one of the greatest defeats of the Civil War.

Kuisha could sympathize with them to some extent.

Devils, no matter how intelligent or powerful, were loath to have their failings thrown back into their faces, no matter the intention; this was a story that a boy found inspiring enough to share with the world, but the old devils wouldn't see it as such.

However, her sympathy for them was smothered rather quickly because their rage was only a small fraction of what her family had held within their breast. Those devils had bent the knee to keep the majority of their lands and their power, meanwhile, her's kept up their support of the original Satans until the very end; their wealth, lands, and titles were stripped away from them and ushered into the Blasted Lands with a pittance. The only reason the Extra Demons hadn't been plucked from the ground root and stem is because the further loss of their bloodlines, and accompanying blood traits, would do more harm to the faction overall than good.

They were kept in the Blasted Lands without power to one day be called upon should the Great War break out once more, and the Extra Demons would have no choice but to bow their heads and heed the call because when the scourge of heavenly light comes down from the heavens it threatens all.

At least, that was what her Grandfather had always told her until the day he was killed by a Granite Basilik in the badlands.

Her father seemed to care less about the politics of it all and instead focused on providing his family with the best life he could given their circumstances.

"My name is Riser Phenex, and I am the 3rd son of Marcus Phenex and Elise Phenex nee' Barbatos," The boy spoke with crystal clarity once the applause had died down, and more fiery steps appeared before him as he made his way closer to the ground one step at a time, "As a son of two prestigious bloodlines I am honored to showcase that I do possess the primary traits of both to you all today."

"Phenex Fire," He spoke, his words carrying a hint of power to them.

He stopped in place on his step, and the air suddenly grew warmer as a few flickering sparks manifested around him before exploding into a giant fireball that shot from the orb of flames surrounding his body.

"Ssssssssscccccrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!"

The screech of a large bird of prey, one reminiscent of the massive Stonefeather Hornbeaks that she had come to fear in her childhood, filled the air inside of the dining hall as the careening fireball took on the shape of a proud phoenix, and it screeched once more as it beautifully soared through the large stone pillars; its movements were deft and lifelike.

"Hell Fire," Riser Phenex spoke once more, and the orange and red flames that once consumed his form guttered out until another set of flames took its place. The sickly green flames seemed to cause him great pain as the flames ate away at his flesh, but the Phenex regeneration healed those wounds as quickly as they came, and he held out his hand- the Hell Fire flames streaming off of his person to blanket the air over the long table.

There was a subtle slackening in his posture the moment the flames no longer were surrounding him, and it appeared as though he sighed in relief before speaking again.

"Wind!" He threw out his arms wide as a sudden gust burst forth from his body, sending the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling swinging and magical torches on the walls flailing.

He brought his arms together and began moving his hands in a slow, swirling motion- as if he was cradling a ball to his chest and trying to move his hands around its surface to touch everything without letting the ball move from its position.

The winds began to howl as the errant gusts flapping table clothes and ruffling hair and dresses began to concentrate around the Hell Fire blanketing over the table. His hands moved faster and faster, and the wind magic began to materialize as a translucent orb that gradually shrunk tighter and tighter- the sickly green fire was pulled into the center of the sphere until it was a highly compressed orb of putrid malice.

"Sccccrrraaaaaaaawwwwwwwww!" The Phoenix of Phenex Flame screeched once more, and it swooped low to the ground, the trailing flames of its tailfeathers leaving lines of fire in its wake.

The construct of fire looped around the orb of Hell Fire, seemingly undisturbed by the winds that were being sucked inside, and it roosted on top of the orb, its talons having no problem finding purchase on the constantly shifting surface.

"Crrrraaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!"

It spread out its wings and let out one last mighty cry, the volume of it vibrating the cutlery on Kuisha's plate, before it, the Hell Fire, and the orb of wind that surrounded it... poofed into a hail of red, green, and white motes of mana that spread throughout the dining area. Absentmindedly the teen fluffed out her table napkin and used it to cover the three plates of food that she hadn't had time to finish off yet; while she knew that it was just stray bits of mana and demonic power, and ultimately harmless, she didn't want to chance that the falling sparkles might alter the taste of the delicacies that she had yet to try.

She observed a single bead of sweat sliding down Riser Phenex's brow, and he clapped his hands once more.

"BANG!" At the back of the dining hall, a pair of double doors were thrown open by a pair of servants, and the tell-tale 'cloppity-clop' of hooves dashing down the fine marble floors filled Kuisha's ears.

Her maidenly heart seemed to soar at the sight of one of the most beautiful and majestic creatures she had ever laid eyes on.

It was a Nightmare, with sleek black fur and powerful muscles that could be seen as it powered along the table toward the young lord of House Phenex. The flames of its mane were just as gorgeous as the flames that spouted from its tail, and the glowing lines of fiery heat that traced over its body were everything that she'd read about and more.

The flaming step disappeared from underneath the boy's feet and he fell gracefully onto the ground and turned his back with his arms spread wide with a massive grin on his face.

The beast did not slow down.

The beast did not break stride or come to a halt.

Or, well, it did, but only after it lowered its head and ran the boy through with its twin horns.

Kuisha's eyes widened as the most beautiful creature she had ever seen murdered the child in front of her.

A firm hand grasped her wrist, and she looked down to see that it was her father holding onto her.

She had left her seat, one of her Holes blossoming right beside her.

When had she stood up?

Yet the look in her father's eyes was telling, and he gave her wrist a gentle squeeze before shaking his head. She opened her mouth to protest, but another squeeze silenced her, and he nodded his head back to Riser Phenex and the Nightmare.

Her head snapped over and she saw the boy slowly hefted off of the ground, his seemingly lifeless body hanging from the two horns that pierced his chest, and the black-haired creature of power and fire threw back its head with a mighty neigh. The force of the throw dislodged the boy from its horns, and in mid-air, the child twisted as flames of Phenex Fire erupted from his body- specifically the two holes in his chest- and he landed in the beast's saddle with his hands grasping the reigns.

The flames vanished from his chest, revealing no wounds; even his suit had been regenerated.

He smiled at the gathered crowd, "Regeneration."

More applause broke out from the crowd, though this time it was a touch more enthusiastic; all devils liked a good show, and Kuisha had to admit that the display of power and control was a far cry from what she had expected before she attended.

"Though!" The boy's voice spoke out loudly, and the clapping slowed to a halt, and he hopped up on top of the saddle, "Though, those are only the traits that I have inherited from my most esteemed father. I also bear within my veins the gifts of my beloved Mother's House, that of the Barbatos Clan."

He looked down and spoke something to the Nightmare that appeared to be gibberish to her ears, but the beautiful- not murderous- steed began to trot around the long table with a proud and noble gait without any further prompting; the boy perfectly balanced on the mare's saddle.

"The Whispers of the Beasts," He intoned softly, and the assorted devils looked on with interest as he and the Nightmare made a complete lap around the table, ending right where they started, "And finally, the last and most prominently known gift of the Barbatos bloodline- the gift of Prophecy."

His cerulean blue eyes took on a slight sheen before blue light emanated from them, and he reached into an interior pocket on his coat to withdraw an ornately decorated envelope.

Riser Phenex held the envelope high up into the air, "Within this envelope are the winners of the Low-Class and Mid-Class brackets of the tournament which we are about to witness."

He twisted his torso and flicked it like a playing card, the envelope yawing across the table and traveling along its entire length before a gust of wind grabbed hold of it and corrected its trajectory... where it floated directly above the very center of the table.

"This vision was given to me almost six months ago, on the day that I first decided to hold a tournament. Within it are two sketches I drew of the victors, and once the tournament is concluded, there that envelope will stay," Riser's posture was stiff as he placed his knuckles to the small of his back, "To ensure that there was no foul play or rigging, the Ratings Game Commission's oversight teams have been viewing the proceedings personally, and I have not seen the list of entrants. Because of that, I know neither the names nor the specialties of the participants; the only thing that I know is the faces of the victors that I saw in my vision."

He hopped off the Nightmare and reached up to stroke its flaming mane before planting a kiss on her well-muscled cheek, and he sent her off back the way she came with a soft mutter of gibberish and a gentle pat on the flank.

Once more a handful of flaming steps appeared before him, except this time he only strode up high enough so that he could be easily seen by everyone in attendance, "Those were the traits that I have inherited from both bloodlines, but what you are about to experience is mine and mine alone. Hear me, fellow Lords of the Demon Pillars! Feel me! This is my power!"

-Wwwwwwoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmm-

[spoiler=Appropriate Bass-y soundeffects[MEDIA=youtube]XN8yIZWdjDM/MEDIA/spoiler]

It happened so quickly.

One moment the boy was standing there, and the next moment a torrent of power was flowing off of him in waves of wind, heat, and noxious fire.

The gust swept over her like a tidal wave, and it was only when she brought her hands up to shield her face did she realized that her father had let go of her arm. Though she didn't have time to think about him as the pressure Riser Phenex exuded was enough to make her knees buckle under the strain.

She gritted her teeth, sweat trickling down her face as a low growl escaped her throat, "This won't be enough to make me kneel."

Her blonde hair whipped around her as she flared her power slightly, suffusing it within her body to withstand the forces that pressed down on her, and instantly the strain lessened and she was able to breathe normally- her back straightening up as she glared down at the boy defiantly; she wasn't here to challenge, but the boy's explosive release had drawn something from deep within her.

Devils kneeled to the strong. They obeyed the strong. It was an inherent part of their creation- the strongest devils led the weakest, and that was something that had stood since the original Lucifer created their race.

Yet the boy wasn't stronger than her, but it was a close thing.

Gallingly close.

Kuisha lowered her arms and looked around the rest of the dining hall, and the reactions were as varied as they were unique. Some were slackjawed in astonishment, others were more amused than anything else, and yet still more seemed to have their faces more firmly etched. The daughter of Amos Abaddon looked back at her father and he seemed composed. No, he appeared utterly relaxed.

"How refreshing..." The mountain of a man murmured as he swirled a half-empty glass of wine in his hand, his head leaned back and eyes closed as he simply let the boy's aura wash over him.

She resisted rolling her eyes and once more scoped out the last of the devils in the room that she hadn't taken notice of before.

The servants- butlers, maids, and all- were down on their knees; some had their eyes open wide with shock and awe, others eyes were closed as they struggled to breathe under the intense onslaught of demonic power filling the air. Yet despite it all, not one had lost hold of the wine glasses and flutes of champagne precariously balanced on their trays.

Her fellow teens, and the children, however, were much worse off.

The power had forced them out of their chairs and they struggled to stay up on their hands and knees, and for the first time since she arrived here she felt no envy or jealousy.

The children and teens who came with the Extra Demon retinues, some of which she knew personally, were standing strong but faltering as the seconds passed by. Eventually, they too folded, down to one knee, but Kuisha Abaddon stood strong.

Unbowed. Unbroken.

Then, as quickly as it had come, the boy's power receded, and he let out a gusty sigh as he tucked a single hand into his pocket and looked around- a satisfied smirk on his face.

"This power? This power is mine and mine alone. There is no question that the gifts of my Mother's and Father's blood have provided for me a solid foundation with fertile soil to match... but this power? This power is something that I've planted the seeds of myself. That I have been cultivating carefully and attending to from the tender age of five. What you have just experienced is the fruits of five years of labor, and as I grow my strength will increase, but I won't be satisfied with that. I will further my training, I will further hone my body and my mind."

He looked over toward the ten devils seated at the table in the corner of the room, the ten survivors of Welmek's Rangers, and he smiled, "As the Rangers once showed me, even the weakest devil can attain the sweetest of victories. If you sharpen your mind and train your body diligently then you can accomplish great things. The greatest opponent that anyone can surmount will always be one's self; as a devil only you can determine what is and isn't possible. Our magics rely on imagination, and with enough grit, moxy, and fighting spirit even the lowest of the low can reach unimaginable heights."

His eyes turned toward one of the cameras in the back of the dining hall, whose crews were just now recovering their feet, "If I can achieve such great heights in just five years, then so can you. For us devils the sky just isn't the limit, it's the starting point, for through our creation by Lord Lucifer we have been granted bodies capable of containing power of which the likes the world has never seen... but that is only if you have the heart to reach within yourself and take it. I for one believe that our generation has had the greatest time of peace the Underworld has ever experienced, and yet nothing has been done to improve that situation, to further expand upon it; we should be just as strong as our forefathers- nay, we should be stronger.

We who have lived in this era of peace and prosperity, in these great times of wealth and plenty... we should have surpassed previous generations purely because of what they have shed their blood, sweat, and tears to provide for us. A teat of mother's milk that has never run dry, even in the hardest of times, and yet instead of growing up all and strong we have overindulged to the point where we have become fat and meek.

So to my fellows, I say it is time to remove that teat from your mouth and embrace the grind toward greatness, to become strong protectors of this wonderous peace that has given us so much."

He shrugged as he looked at the other heirs and heiresses who were pale-faced and struggling to get their legs out under them, "Or you can continue to suckle while crying out in feckless anger while laying in the diapers of excrement that is your own incompetence. It matters not to me."

"Still," His demeanor shifted to something less confrontational and more genial, "We aren't gathered here to listen to my sermons on the failing of the current generation of devilkind, now are we? We're gathered here for a celebration! And with this ladies and gentledevils, let the opening rounds of the Phenex Open Tournament begin!"

He swept his arms wide as two large globes of light appeared above the table to show a fully functional stadium packed to the brim with Low-Class and Mid-Class devils alike; the magical orbs were of a variety that she heard about from what little she heard from the trading caravans that appeared every so often carrying goods from the capital of Lilith. They were used for large gatherings of viewers for their petty Ratings Games, and they were enchanted to at least transmit some imitation of the magical power being thrown about; to watch the fights without being able to feel the strength of those involved was supposedly a bland experience, much like ice cream without any toppings.

Or something like that, Kuisha wouldn't know because ice cream has never graced her lips before, and the end of the table furthest from her was where the deserts were.

She hoped that the fire bird hadn't melted it.

However her thoughts of desert were pushed away by the fact that she still hadn't finished her other plates, and in House Abaddon, every morsel was to be eaten if one wanted sweets. Kuisha looked around before taking her seat, and once she got comfortable she glanced up and locked eyes with the boy who was looking at her with a burning intensity.

If he had been her age maybe she would have graced him with a small blush, but since he was merely a boy she arched an eyebrow as he slowly approached.

He stopped at the edge of the table and gave her father a low bow, "Lord Amos Abaddon, I am so very glad that you could attend."

Her father slowly stood up and provided a shallow bow of his own, "This is the first time since our exile that anyone from the Great Pillar Houses has deigned to ever invite us to an auspicious occasion such as this, and when it was offered in good faith it would have been rude to refuse the young man who extended his hand when others have seen fit to offer only a closed fist."

Kuisha began nibbling at a cut of steak on her fork as she watched the pair chat.

"Is that so?" The boy's posture softened as he shook his head, "Well maybe it is because I am young, but I do not wish to let the wrongs of centuries past color what I want to envision the world to be. As far as I am concerned the sins of the father should not cripple the son, let alone the generations after... however voicing my thoughts anymore in such a public setting would be impolite; I was not around to experience either of those two horrific wars, so for me to simply cast aside their grievances would be unkind."

The steak was unfortunately gone, a pity, but there was a thick cut of what appeared to be ham on her plate, so Kuisha started to work on that next- a shiver running through her body as the tender, fatty meat parted with the slightest touch of her fork.

"A well-spoken young lad, powerful as well," Amos reached out and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, "But that isn't why you approached our table, yes? To merely exchange pleasantries? There is a tournament you went through the effort of hosting..."

The boy smiled as Kuisha slid some mashed potatoes onto her pork and took a bite, a small happy noise leaving her lips.

"You are correct, but if I'm being honest I've already seen the victor of this contest. If my vision turns out to be true I'll likely be banned from betting on Ratings Games by the Committee," He smiled at the larger man before his eyes slid over to Kuisha, and she paused, "I actually came over here to speak with the beautiful young miss here."

Kuisha fought down the desire to shout 'Me?!' and instead she stuffed the remainder of the plate into her mouth; if he tried to offer a marriage proposal for her then it was likely that they'd be leaving immediately... and then she wouldn't be able to finish any of the succulent food on her third plate.

"And what is it that you wish to discuss with my dear Kuisha?" Her father's voice was a deep rumble in his barrel of a chest, but he didn't seem to be agitated.

"A wager, Mister Abaddon, between herself and I."

"Hoh?" Her father arched an eyebrow as he placed his hands on his hips, "It appears as though you are just as insufferably confident as your father."

Amos looked over and Kuisha tracked his eyes over to the head table where she saw Lord Phenex smile and raise a glass.

"Though he was one of my most worthy foes. Still insufferable, but," Her father's bushy black eyebrows peered down at Riser Phenex, "I am curious as to hear about this wager."

Riser gave the man a slanted smile, "Well, in three years I will be automatically granted a set of Evil Pieces merely by the dint of my birth as a son of one of the Demon Pillars. However, I have seen the... moxy of Miss Kuisha Abaddon and I couldn't help but realize that out of every devil in attendance, that wasn't at least a century old, she was the only one still standing. That intrigued me."

Her father hummed but didn't speak.

"I see her strength and potential and I cannot help but wonder if I cannot improve upon it- to see her reach even greater heights," He reached into his pocket and withdrew a blank sheet of magical contract paper, "So for that reason I am willing to wager an unspoiled set of Evil Pieces for the chance to fight her in three years... and make her my Queen."

"The Extra Demons have never been given a set of Evil Pieces before," Kuisha muttered out loud, drawing the attention of both Riser and her father, "And if you wish to make a wager where I am a prize to be won then you best entreat with me."

The boy at least had the grace to give her a sheepish smile, "That was never in question, Miss Abaddon, I was merely observing formality by approaching the Patriarch of your family and letting him hear the terms first... as dictated by law when it comes to wagers with stakes such as these. You were always going to be consulted with the ability to negotiate terms, of that I can assure you. With the option to refuse outright if you wish... with no ill feelings. This is a wager of a... hrm... youthful and foolish young man, not of House Phenex."

She noticed that he had to clear his throat to stop himself from smiling halfway through his words, but as far as she could tell he had not spoken falsely.

Kuisha looked down at her plate and pondered for a moment, and she was the delicious meal that had been barely savored.

"Construction supplies." She finally spoke, raising her head to look at the boy, "Greenhouses and construction supplies. Fertile soil as well. Seeds and cattle and pigs and chickens. Walls to surround them and keep them safe."

The boy gazed at her consideringly, "Win or lose, I will pledge 10 Million in construction supplies and the other necessities needed to see those crops and farm animals grow. In the Underworld, such things should be cheap enough to procure in enough quantities so that they would be beneficial."

"Only 10 Million?" Her father asked, and Riser Phenex looked up before shrugging.

"I have two businesses in the mortal realm that are making me tidy profits, and my pocket money from my parents contributes to that. However, I am not using the Phenex vaults to bankroll this wager, and if I dared suggest I would then my father would be liable to see just how many times my head can roll before my regeneration gives out. So yes, 10 Million is what I am willing to pony up to see this wager signed, and may I remind you that this is not contingent on your victory over me; though if you did win you'd get the construction supplies with the aid to build what it is you wish to build and the set of Evil Pieces that no other Extra Demon clan has ever gotten their hands on."

"Hmmhmmhmmm," Her father's low chuckle tickled Kuisha's ears, "And just like your father you are a terrible negotiator."

"No, it is more that I happen to value people with whom I'm proposing a permanent arrangement with. Negotiation is the very fine art of making sure that your side comes out on top, and if not, then it is the art of finding a middle ground that no one is happy with yet willing to agree all the same," Cerulean eyes bore into emerald green, "And I want to bring someone to the table to discuss a possible profitable future, not..."

Bend her over it.

However, that part was left unsaid.

With great reluctance, Kuisha Abaddon set her cutlery down on the napkin next to her plate and reached for the contract paper, which the boy placed into her hand along with an expensive-looking fountain pen.

She really wished that she could have finished eating her meal, but when the boy of the hour wanted her attention and offered something that her family would greatly benefit from... then who was she to deny him?

She wrote down her terms in the contract before reading the rest.

It was all fairly standard in her opinion, promises to look after her health and wellbeing, and the like. However, just as she was about to hand back the contract she felt an evil thought flicker across her mind, and she quickly added it to the bottom before capping the pen.

Would he be so eager to make the wager now with her terms?

The boy's eyes widened in shock as he read over everything, and she couldn't help but grin at the boy devilishly as she interlaced her fingers and rested her chin on them. When he looked at her she batted her eyes prettily at him, a small giggle leaving her lips.

Her father, for his part, was highly amused as he was able to see over her shoulder thanks to his great height.

What would the boy do now, she wondered? Would he turn tail and run away? Or would he-

"Oh, it's on."

Kuisha's mind stuttered as his easy, polite smile took on a dangerous edge.

"I have big goals, Kuisha Abaddon. However I've always found myself lacking any tangible short-term ones," Riser Phenex popped the cap off the pen and signed on the dotted line before slicing his thumb with the tip and letting a single drop of blood drip onto the paper, "Yet you've just given me one. One with real stakes on the line. I accept your terms wholeheartedly."

He slid the contract back over to her with a fire in his eyes, "Win or lose you will have what is in the contract. If you lose, you will not get the Evil Pieces and will become my Queen. If I lose... you will get the Evil Pieces and I will be your Queen."

Though his vicious smile lost a bit of its luster, "Though if I do lose and happen to become unmarriageable then I'll expect you to take responsibility. Or else my mother will kill me."

The boy's words shattered her mind.

T-take r-responsibility!?

"A-alright...?" What else was she supposed to say in a situation like this!?

Her mind was in a daze as she signed the contract and finished it off with a single drop of blood.

The moment the contract was signed it disappeared in a flash of light, to the central repository where all magical contracts were kept; multiple copies would be sent to both parties via courier.

Riser Phenex seemed to vibrate in place as she handed the pen back to him, and he capped it before slipping it into his coat, "Prepare yourself, Kuisha Abaddon, because when I see you in three years from today I will be bringing everything I've got."

The teen swallowed thickly as she nodded, "I will do the same."

"Good! Thats great. Fantastic even. Train hard, I am looking forward to it!" He smiled at her so brilliantly that it made her eyes water, though it dimmed somewhat when he looked over his shoulder.

Lord Phenex seemed to be hiding a smile behind his glass while Lady Phenex's... wine glass was merely a shattered stem in her hand, the blood-red wine dribbling down her wrist and onto the ground.

Riser cleared his throat, "Now to face down an opponent that I can never hope to defeat, no matter how strong I become."

"Heh, good luck boy," Kuisha's father spoke out before patting the boy on the shoulder, "And... congratulations on your debut. You best make sure you survive your mother to face my daughter, lest you forfeit the pieces you wagered to her. I can swing a posthumous award in the courts if I press it."

That seemed to get the boy to laugh, though weakly, "The problem isn't going to be surviving. I'm a Phenex. It's surviving with my sanity intact that will be the greater obstacle."

Riser Phenex took a deep breath and clapped his cheeks, "Once more unto the breach..."

With that, he strode toward the head table where the Phenex family was seated, and Kuisha sighed as her father sat down next to her.

"Was that the right decision?" She muttered as she cursed her impulsiveness.

Greed and gluttony were her two personal vices, but given that she was currently in a dining hall that was a veritable horn of plenty... was this whole invitation a trap?

"I do believe so. While I am not one to simply give you up, Kuisha, there is no doubt that the benefits of this wager lay more on our side than his. A powerful Queen is something that is difficult to find here in the Underworld, but not annoyingly so," He reached up and stroked the dark muttonchops on his face as he looked to her, "And most importantly of all this was a situation that was decided solely by yourself. You put the needs of our people above yourself, and that is admirable. If you win then not only will you have a powerful Queen of your own, a wealthy and well-connected one at that, but the Evil Pieces will only serve to strengthen the Abaddon family's position in the Blasted Lands. Just giving a few of our best hunters some Pawn pieces and having them promote would save many lives."

Amos Abaddon crossed his arms over his chest, "Besides, I've been looking for marriage partners for you for quite some time, and none of the candidates have been able to pass muster. So if you win then its likely you'll have yourself a polite, well-spoken, powerful, wealthy, well-connected, and powerful husband."

"Father, you said 'powerful' twice."

"Hmphf. It needs to be said twice. If the boy joins us in the Blasted Lands as your Queen and Husband then his strength must be paramount, not to mention the benefits of his Phenex blood for my future grandchildren," The large man smirked, "And it would make my father roll around in his grave to learn that a Phenex would be marrying into his household. Heh. Rotten old bastard."

"Father, wasn't it Marcus Phenex who bested you at Calmais?"

"It was," He huffed, "But I never hated the man or anything. He gave me his terms and then fought me fiercely... I tell you it was a wonder to see the skies of the Underworld lit up in flame as my Holes ate them and turned them against him. A worthy man, and if the boy's ability now is any indication... the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree."

"Ruval Phenex is one of the strongest devils alive." She pointed out.

"I know. But we're not talking about Ruval Phenex, are we, my little sunflower?"

Kuisha blushed as he placed a large hand on top of her head.

"Now, I can see that your amendment to the terms lit a fire in that boy, so when we get home I am going to start training you personally. As you are now you're only marginally stronger, and if his current strength is anything to go by then we're going to need to pull out all of the stops," He let go of her hair before gesturing toward the tables, "Now, run along my dear daughter and eat your fill of this fabulous cuisine while we watch the tournament. I'll be curious as to see if the boy's vision comes true."

Not needing to be told twice Kuisha stood up and went over to gather a few more plates of food, piling them high, and she stopped by the dessert table and made sure to get three bowls of ice cream and two plates of cookies.

What good was a tournament without snacks?

Special thanks to Lmc9389, Artillery, AuraofCalm, Mioismoe, Southmonk, Darkarma, Acrimonius, T. Balewood, Randall Randall, Dominyx Black, CyberCrisis, Blue, Russ Stilter, Legion_13, Mike Fatal_Bullet, P. Nguyen, J. Ricardo Passos, K. Weierbach, R. Alderman, A P, Arrorn, Empty Shelf, PbookR, Mortaegus, Nevets309, Jake95044, Jackson R., G. Johnson, T. Dewitt, M. McGuire, DragonShark-Eater, Big-Tofu, Alexei A., Brandon B., David B., Grant L., Anti-Akuma, Cailk, Robert H., Jigawats, Joseph M. Teti, Konb, Stelliferous, A. McGregor, Jasticus, C. Wiggins, M. Compean, Dynrakmos, Lictor Magnus, Coolman59223, John the Gamer, J.Goncalves, and Shurukkah for being Patrons!

You guys rock!

A/N: If the link doesn't work then I don't know what to tell you. Just look her up in the DxD Wikia. I couldn't find any fanart of her and the wikia pages were the best quality images I could find.

Spent a LONG time trying to formulate this debut to make it fun and interesting, so I hope you all enjoyed! Especially seeing it from the POV of an Extra Demon household.